UNITED STATES | ||
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | ||
Washington, D.C. 20549 | ||
FORM 10-K | ||
(Mark One) | ||
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 | ||
or | ||
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||
For the transition period from __________ to __________. | ||
Commission file Number 34603-9 | ||
MVB Financial Corp. | ||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||
West Virginia | 20-0034461 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
301 Virginia Avenue, Fairmont, WV | 26554 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (304) 363-4800 | ||
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) [None] | ||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, $1.00 Par | None | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: | ||
Common Stock, $1.00 Par | ||
(Title of Class) | ||
Preferred Stock, $1,000.00 Par | ||
(Title of Class) | ||
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒. | |||
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) Act. Yes ☐ No ☒ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ | |||
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): | |||
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☒ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒. | |||
Based upon the average selling price of sales known to the Registrant of the Registrant's common stock during the period through June 30, 2016 , the aggregate market value of the common shares of the Registrant held by non-affiliates during that time was $88,431,005. For this purpose, certain executive officers and directors are considered affiliates.
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the Annual Meeting to be held May 16, 2017, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
As of March 9, 2017 , the Registrant had 9,996,544 shares of common stock outstanding with a par value of $1.00 per share.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Page | ||
2
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
MVB Financial Corp., (the "Company") was formed on May 29, 2003 and became a bank holding company under the laws of West Virginia on January 1, 2004, and, effective December 19, 2012, became a financial holding company. The Company features a subsidiary and multiple affiliated businesses, each of which is described in more detail below, including MVB Bank, Inc. (the "Bank") and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, MVB Mortgage and MVB Insurance, LLC ("MVB Insurance"). On December 31, 2013, three Company subsidiaries, MVB-Central, Inc. (a second-tier level holding company), MVB-East, Inc. (a second tier holding company) and Bank Compliance Solutions, Inc. (an inactive subsidiary) were merged into the Company.
The Bank was formed on October 30, 1997 and chartered under the laws of the State of West Virginia. The Bank commenced operations on January 4, 1999. In August of 2005, the Bank opened a full-service office in neighboring Harrison County, West Virginia. During October of 2005, the Bank purchased a branch office in Jefferson County, West Virginia, situated in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. During the third quarter of 2007, the Bank opened a full-service office in the Martinsburg area of Berkeley County, West Virginia. In the second quarter of 2011, the Bank opened a banking facility in the Cheat Lake area of Monongalia County, West Virginia. The Bank opened its second Harrison County, West Virginia location, the downtown Clarksburg office in the historic Empire Building during the fourth quarter of 2012.
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Bank acquired Potomac Mortgage Group, Inc. (“PMG” which, following July 15, 2013, began doing business under the registered trade name “MVB Mortgage”), a mortgage company in the northern Virginia area, and fifty percent (50%) interest in a mortgage services company, Lender Service Provider, LLC (“LSP”). In the third quarter of 2013, this fifty percent (50%) interest in LSP was reduced to a twenty-five percent (25%) interest through a sale of a partial interest. MVB Mortgage has eleven mortgage only offices, located in Virginia, within the Washington, DC metropolitan area as well as North Carolina and South Carolina, and, in addition, has mortgage loan originators located at select Bank locations throughout West Virginia.
In the first quarter of 2013, the Bank opened its second Monongalia County location in the Sabraton area of Morgantown, West Virginia. In the second quarter of 2013, the Bank opened its second full-service office in Berkeley County, West Virginia, at Edwin Miller Boulevard. In addition, the Bank opened a loan production office at 184 Summers Street, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, which was subsequently moved to 400 Washington Street East, Charleston, West Virginia and later replaced during March 2015 by a full-service branch at the same location.
In 2014, the Bank opened a loan production office in Reston, Fairfax County, Virginia, which was replaced by a full-service branch in October 2015.
During January 2015, the Bank opened a location at 100 NASA Boulevard, Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia, which replaced the 9789 Mall Loop, White Hall, Marion County, West Virginia location as the Technology Park location offers a drive-thru facility to better serve customers. During March 2015, the location at 9789 Mall Loop was closed. During August 2015, the Bank purchased two branch locations in Berkeley County, West Virginia, situated in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle at 704 Foxcroft Avenue, Martinsburg, West Virginia and 5091 Gerrardstown Road, Inwood, West Virginia.
Currently, the Bank operates thirteen full-service banking branches in West Virginia and Virginia, which are located at: 301 Virginia Avenue in Fairmont, Marion County; 100 NASA Boulevard in Fairmont, Marion County; 1000 Johnson Avenue in Bridgeport, Harrison County; 406 West Main St. in Clarksburg, Harrison County; 88 Somerset Boulevard in Charles Town, Jefferson County; 651 Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg, Berkeley County; 704 Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg, Berkeley County; 5091 Gerrardstown Road in Inwood, Berkeley County; 2400 Cranberry Square in Cheat Lake, Monongalia County; 10 Sterling Drive in Morgantown, Monongalia County; 231 Aikens Center in Martinsburg, Berkeley County; 400 Washington Street East in Charleston, Kanawha County; and 1801 Old Reston Avenue Reston, Fairfax County.
MVB Insurance was originally formed in 2000 and reinstated in 2005, as a Bank subsidiary. Effective June 1, 2013, MVB Insurance became a direct subsidiary of the Company. MVB Insurance offered select insurance products such as title insurance, individual insurance, commercial insurance, employee benefits insurance, and professional liability insurance. On June 30, 2016, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with USI Insurance Services (“USI”), in which USI purchased substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of MVB Insurance, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $6.9 million, and was reported in discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 23, "Discontinued Operations" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
3
MVB Insurance retained the assets related to, and continues to operate, its title insurance business. The title insurance business is immaterial in terms of revenue and the Company has reorganized MVB Insurance as a subsidiary of the Bank.
Subsequent to the sale of MVB Insurance, the Company’s primary business activities, through its subsidiary, are currently community banking, and mortgage banking. As a community-based bank, the Bank offers its customers a full range of products through various delivery channels. Such products and services include checking accounts, NOW accounts, money market and savings accounts, time certificates of deposit, commercial, installment, commercial real estate and residential real estate mortgage loans, debit cards, and safe deposit rental facilities. Services are provided through our walk-in offices, automated teller machines (“ATMs”), drive-in facilities, and internet and telephone banking. Additionally, the Bank offers non-deposit investment products through an association with a broker-dealer. Since the opening date of January 4, 1999, the Bank has experienced significant growth in assets, loans, and deposits due to strong community and customer support in the Marion County and Harrison County, West Virginia markets, expansion into Jefferson, Berkeley, Monongalia and Kanawha Counties, West Virginia and, most recently, into Fairfax County, Virginia. With the acquisition of PMG, mortgage banking is now a much more significant focus, which has opened increased market opportunities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and added enough volume to further diversify the Company’s revenue stream.
At December 31, 2016, the Company had total assets of $1.4 billion, total loans of $1.1 billion, total deposits of $1.1 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $145.6 million.
At December 31, 2016, the Company had 382 full-time equivalent employees. The Company’s principal office is located at 301 Virginia Avenue, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554, and its telephone number is (304) 363-4800. The Company’s Internet web site is www.mvbbanking.com.
Segment Reporting
The Company has identified three reportable segments: commercial and retail banking; mortgage banking; and financial holding company. Insurance services was previously identified as a reportable segment until entering into the Asset Purchase Agreement with USI, as discussed below and in Note 23, "Discontinued Operations" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Revenue from commercial and retail banking activities consists primarily of interest earned on loans and investment securities and service charges on deposit accounts. Revenue from financial holding company activities is mainly comprised of intercompany service income and dividends.
Revenue from the mortgage banking activities is comprised of interest earned on loans and fees received as a result of the mortgage origination process. The mortgage banking services are conducted by MVB Mortgage. Revenue from insurance services is comprised mainly of commissions on the sale of insurance products. Due to the sale as discussed below and in Note 23, "Discontinued Operations" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. None of the insurance services activity is included in continuing operations
On June 30, 2016, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with USI Insurance Services (USI), in which USI purchased substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of MVB Insurance, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $6.9 million, as discussed in Note 23, "Discontinued Operations" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. MVB Insurance retained the assets related to, and continues to operate, its title insurance business. The title insurance business is immaterial in terms of revenue and the Company has reorganized MVB Insurance as a subsidiary of the Bank.
4
Information about the reportable segments and reconciliation to the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | Commercial & Retail Banking | Mortgage Banking | Financial Holding Company | Insurance | Intercompany Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 50,413 | $ | 4,285 | $ | 3 | $ | — | $ | (578 | ) | $ | 54,123 | |||||||||||
Mortgage fee income | (252 | ) | 36,960 | — | — | (1,035 | ) | 35,673 | ||||||||||||||||
Insurance and investment services income | 420 | — | — | — | — | 420 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 5,485 | 1,674 | 5,247 | — | (5,294 | ) | 7,112 | |||||||||||||||||
Total operating income | 56,066 | 42,919 | 5,250 | — | (6,907 | ) | 97,328 | |||||||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 8,437 | 2,082 | 2,226 | — | (1,613 | ) | 11,132 | |||||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 11,592 | 27,696 | 5,937 | — | — | 45,225 | ||||||||||||||||||
Provision for loan losses | 3,632 | — | — | — | — | 3,632 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other expense | 18,009 | 8,125 | 3,144 | — | (5,294 | ) | 23,984 | |||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 41,670 | 37,903 | 11,307 | — | (6,907 | ) | 83,973 | |||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes | 14,396 | 5,016 | (6,057 | ) | — | — | 13,355 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - continuing operations | 4,496 | 1,954 | (2,072 | ) | — | — | 4,378 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations | 9,900 | 3,062 | (3,985 | ) | — | — | 8,977 | |||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations | — | — | 6,926 | (580 | ) | — | 6,346 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,629 | $ | (218 | ) | $ | — | $ | 2,411 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,297 | $ | (362 | ) | $ | — | $ | 3,935 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 9,900 | $ | 3,062 | $ | 312 | $ | (362 | ) | $ | — | $ | 12,912 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | 1,128 | — | — | 1,128 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders | 9,900 | 3,062 | (816 | ) | (362 | ) | — | 11,784 | ||||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2016 | $ | 1,145 | $ | 220 | $ | 303 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,668 | ||||||||||||
Total Assets as of December 31, 2016 | 1,415,735 | 122,242 | 180,340 | — | (299,513 | ) | 1,418,804 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill as of December 31, 2016 | 1,598 | 16,882 | — | — | — | 18,480 | ||||||||||||||||||
5
2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | Commercial & Retail Banking | Mortgage Banking | Financial Holding Company | Insurance | Intercompany Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 40,524 | $ | 3,882 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | (308 | ) | $ | 44,100 | |||||||||||
Mortgage fee income | 7 | 30,560 | — | — | (1,095 | ) | 29,472 | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance and investment services income | 338 | — | — | — | — | 338 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 3,721 | 1,673 | 4,331 | — | (4,580 | ) | 5,145 | |||||||||||||||||
Total operating income | 44,590 | 36,115 | 4,333 | — | (5,983 | ) | 79,055 | |||||||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 6,776 | 1,647 | 2,204 | — | (1,402 | ) | 9,225 | |||||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 11,049 | 20,774 | 4,250 | — | — | 36,073 | ||||||||||||||||||
Provision for loan losses | 2,493 | — | — | — | — | 2,493 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other expense | 16,132 | 7,471 | 2,534 | — | (4,362 | ) | 21,775 | |||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 36,450 | 29,892 | 8,988 | — | (5,764 | ) | 69,566 | |||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes | 8,140 | 6,223 | (4,655 | ) | — | (219 | ) | 9,489 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - continuing operations | 2,176 | 2,394 | (1,597 | ) | — | (87 | ) | 2,886 | ||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations | 5,964 | 3,829 | (3,058 | ) | — | (132 | ) | 6,603 | ||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations | — | — | — | 134 | 219 | 353 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 53 | $ | 87 | $ | 140 | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 81 | $ | 132 | $ | 213 | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 5,964 | $ | 3,829 | $ | (3,058 | ) | $ | 81 | $ | — | $ | 6,816 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | 575 | — | — | 575 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders | 5,964 | 3,829 | (3,633 | ) | 81 | — | 6,241 | |||||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2015 | $ | 1,174 | $ | 354 | $ | 616 | $ | 9 | $ | — | $ | 2,153 | ||||||||||||
Total Assets as of December 31, 2015 | 1,378,988 | 125,227 | 148,509 | 5,017 | (273,265 | ) | 1,384,476 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015 | 1,598 | 16,882 | — | — | — | 18,480 | ||||||||||||||||||
6
2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | Commercial & Retail Banking | Mortgage Banking | Financial Holding Company | Insurance | Intercompany Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 33,175 | $ | 2,645 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 346 | $ | 36,168 | ||||||||||||
Mortgage fee income | 64 | 18,691 | — | — | (1,198 | ) | 17,557 | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance and investment services income | 328 | — | — | — | — | 328 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 4,458 | (2 | ) | 4,357 | — | (4,676 | ) | 4,137 | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating income | 38,025 | 21,334 | 4,359 | — | (5,528 | ) | 58,190 | |||||||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 5,663 | 1,063 | 1,703 | — | (918 | ) | 7,511 | |||||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 9,629 | 14,487 | 3,658 | — | — | 27,774 | ||||||||||||||||||
Provision for loan losses | 2,582 | — | — | — | — | 2,582 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other expense | 13,994 | 5,990 | 1,970 | — | (4,534 | ) | 17,420 | |||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 31,868 | 21,540 | 7,331 | — | (5,452 | ) | 55,287 | |||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes | 6,157 | (206 | ) | (2,972 | ) | — | (76 | ) | 2,903 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - continuing operations | 1,326 | (57 | ) | (993 | ) | — | (28 | ) | 248 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations | 4,831 | (149 | ) | (1,979 | ) | — | (48 | ) | 2,655 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations | — | — | — | (996 | ) | 76 | (920 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (372 | ) | $ | 28 | $ | (344 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (624 | ) | $ | 48 | $ | (576 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 4,831 | $ | (149 | ) | $ | (1,979 | ) | $ | (624 | ) | $ | — | $ | 2,079 | |||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | — | — | 332 | — | — | 332 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders | 4,831 | (149 | ) | (2,311 | ) | (624 | ) | — | 1,747 | |||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2014 | $ | 9,072 | $ | 333 | $ | 40 | $ | 353 | $ | — | $ | 9,798 | ||||||||||||
Total Assets as of December 31, 2014 | 1,048,101 | 101,791 | 146,137 | 4,031 | (189,601 | ) | 1,110,459 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill as of December 31, 2014 | 897 | 16,882 | — | — | — | 17,779 | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial & Retail Banking
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Commercial & Retail Banking segment earned $9.9 million compared to $6.0 million in 2015. Net interest income increased by $8.2 million, primarily the result of average loan balances increasing by $179.0 million. Noninterest income increased by $1.6 million, primarily the result of the following: $818 thousand improvement in performance of the interest rate cap, $882 thousand increase in gain on sale of securities, $133 thousand increase in other operating income, and $199 thousand increase in Visa debit card and interchange income, which was offset by $371 thousand decrease in gain on sale of portfolio loans and $259 thousand decrease in mortgage fee income. Noninterest expense increased by $2.4 million, primarily the result of the following: $543 thousand increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, $494 thousand increase in occupancy and equipment expense, and $832 thousand increase in data processing and communications expense, which was offset by $776 thousand decrease in professional fees. In addition, provision expense increased by $1.1 million.
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Mortgage Banking
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Mortgage Banking segment earned $3.1 million compared to $3.8 million in 2015. Net interest income decreased $32 thousand, noninterest income increased by $6.4 million and noninterest expense increased by $7.6 million. The $6.4 million increase in noninterest income was all related to mortgage fee income and was offset by the $7.6 million increase in noninterest expense. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily the result of the following: $6.9 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, which was primarily due to a 26.4% increase in origination volume as well as a $1.8 million increase in the earn out paid to management of the mortgage company related to the 2012 acquisition. Other items that impacted noninterest expense were as follows: $197 thousand increase in mortgage processing expense, $98 thousand increase in data processing and communications expense, $117 thousand in occupancy and equipment expense, $133 thousand increase in travel, entertainment, dues, and subscriptions expense, and $134 thousand in other operating expense, of which an increase of $55 thousand was related to loan expenses, which was offset by a $115 thousand decrease in marketing expense.
Financial Holding Company
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Financial Holding Company reported a loss from continuing operations of $4.0 million compared to a loss of $3.1 million in 2015. Interest expense increased $22 thousand, noninterest income increased $916 thousand and noninterest expense increased $2.3 million. In addition, the income tax benefit increased $475 thousand. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, a $220 thousand increase in professional fees, a $259 thousand increase in occupancy and equipment expense, and a $66 thousand increase in other operating expense.
Insurance
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Insurance segment lost $362 thousand compared to earning $81 thousand in 2015. In June 2016, primarily all the assets of the Insurance segment were sold and the segment was reorganized as a subsidiary of the Bank.
Market Area
The Company’s primary market areas are the Marion, Harrison, Jefferson, Berkeley, Monongalia, and Kanawha counties of West Virginia and Fairfax county of Virginia. In addition, MVB Mortgage has mortgage only offices located in Virginia, Washington, DC, as well as North Carolina and South Carolina and, in addition, has mortgage loan originators located at select Bank locations throughout West Virginia.
United States Census Bureau data indicates that the Fairmont and Marion County, West Virginia populations have had somewhat different trends from 1980 to 2015. The population of Fairmont has fluctuated from 23,863 in 1980; 20,210 in 1990; 19,097 in 2000; 18,704 in 2010; and 18,733 in 2015, or a net decline of 5,130 or 21.5%. Marion County increased its population from 1980 to 1990, 55,789 to 57,249, decreased to 56,598 in 2000, decreased to 56,418 in 2010 and increased to 56,925 in 2015. These changes resulted in a net increase of 2.0%. The Marion County population includes that of Fairmont. The result is that over the last 35 years, there has not been any significant change in population. Harrison County’s population decreased from 69,371 in 1990 to 68,652 in 2000, increased to 69,099 in 2010, decreased to 68,714 in 2015, while Bridgeport’s population has increased from 7,306 in 2000 to 7,896 in 2010, to 8,359 in 2015, indicating that while population change in Harrison County has been relatively flat, the Bridgeport area is growing. The population in Jefferson County has been on the rise in recent years, increasing from 42,190 in 2000 to 53,498 in 2010, to 56,482 in 2015. During this period, Charles Town has seen an increase in population of 102.9% to 5,899 in 2015. Berkeley County’s population has grown from 75,905 in 2000 to 104,169 in 2010, to 111,901 in 2015, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia. Martinsburg’s population has increased 18.2% since 2000 to 17,700 in 2015. Monongalia County’s population has increased from 81,866 in 2000 to 96,189 in 2010, to 104,236 in 2015, an increase of 27.3%. Morgantown’s population in 2015 was 30,708, an increase of 3,899 or 14.5% since 2000. Kanawha County’s population decreased slightly from 200,073 in 2000 to 188,332 in 2015, a decrease of 5.9%. Charleston’s population in 2015 was 49,736, a decrease of 3,685 or 6.9% since 2000. Fairfax County’s population increased from 969,749 in 2000 to 1,142,234 in 2015. Based upon this data, management believes the Company’s offices are in some of the most desirable locations in the state of West Virginia and Virginia.
8
The current economic climate in the Company’s primary market areas reflect economic climates that are consistent with the general national climate. Unemployment in the United States was 4.5%, 4.8% and 5.4% in December 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The unemployment levels in the Company’s primary market areas were as follows for the periods indicated:
December 2016 | December 2015 | December 2014 | |||||||
Berkeley County, WV | 3.1 | % | 3.8 | % | 4.3 | % | |||
Harrison County, WV | 4.9 | % | 5.8 | % | 4.5 | % | |||
Jefferson County, WV | 2.6 | % | 3.1 | % | 3.5 | % | |||
Marion County, WV | 5.1 | % | 5.9 | % | 4.9 | % | |||
Monongalia County, WV | 3.2 | % | 3.8 | % | 3.5 | % | |||
Kanawha County, WV | 4.6 | % | 5.2 | % | 5.1 | % | |||
Fairfax County, VA | 3.0 | % | 3.1 | % | 3.5 | % | |||
The numbers from the Company’s primary market areas continue to be slightly better than the national numbers. The Company and the Bank nonperforming loan information supports the fact that the Company’s primary market areas have not suffered as much as that of the nation as a whole. Nonperforming loans to total loans were 0.59%, 0.99% and 1.16% as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Charge-offs to total loans were 0.24%, 0.07% and 0.16% for each period respectively. The Company and the Bank continue to closely monitor economic and delinquency trends.
The Company originates various types of loans, including commercial and commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, real estate construction loans, and consumer loans (loans to individuals). In general, the Company retains most of its originated loans (exclusive of certain long-term, fixed rate residential mortgages that are sold.) However, loans originated in excess of the Bank’s legal lending limit are participated to other banking institutions and the servicing of those loans is retained by the bank.
The energy industry, consisting of coal and natural gas, which has been negatively impacted by the decline in energy commodity prices, are elements of the West Virginia economy and numerous markets in which the Company operates. The Company has limited exposure in both the coal and natural gas industry. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding loan balances to coal and natural gas production clients were $7.3 million and $7.3 million, respectively.
Commercial Loans
At December 31, 2016, the Bank had outstanding approximately $757.5 million in commercial loans, including commercial, commercial real estate, financial and agricultural loans. These loans represented approximately 71.9% of the total aggregate loan portfolio as of that date.
Lending Practices. Commercial lending entails significant additional risks as compared with consumer lending (i.e., single-family residential mortgage lending, and installment lending). In addition, the payment experience on commercial loans typically depends on adequate cash flow of a business and thus may be subject, to a greater extent, to adverse conditions in the general economy or in a specific industry. Loan terms include amortization schedules commensurate with the purpose of each loan, the source of repayment and the risk involved. The primary analysis technique used in determining whether to grant a commercial loan is the review of a schedule of estimated cash flows to evaluate whether anticipated future cash flows will be adequate to service both interest and principal due. In addition, the Bank reviews collateral to determine its value in relation to the loan in the event of a foreclosure.
The Bank evaluates all new commercial loans and the Credit Department facilitates an annual loan review process that ensures that a significant portion of the commercial loan portfolio, typically a minimum of 50%, is reviewed each year under a risk-based approach. If deterioration in credit worthiness has occurred, the Bank takes prompt action designed to assure repayment of the loan. Upon detection of the reduced ability of a borrower to meet original cash flow obligations, the loan is considered a classified loan and reviewed for possible downgrading or placement on non-accrual status.
Consumer Loans
At December 31, 2016, the Bank had outstanding consumer loans in an aggregate amount of approximately $14.5 million or approximately 1.4% of the aggregate total loan portfolio.
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Lending Practices. Consumer loans generally involve more risk as to collectability than mortgage loans because of the type and nature of the collateral and, in certain instances, the absence of collateral. As a result, consumer lending collections are dependent upon the borrower’s continued financial stability, and thus are more likely to be adversely affected by employment loss, personal bankruptcy, or adverse economic conditions. Credit approval for consumer loans requires demonstration of sufficiency of income to repay principal and interest due, stability of employment, a positive credit record and sufficient collateral for secured loans. It is the policy of the Bank to review its consumer loan portfolio monthly and to charge-off loans that do not meet its standards and to adhere strictly to all laws and regulations governing consumer lending.
Real Estate Loans
At December 31, 2016, the Bank had approximately $280.8 million of residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, and construction mortgages outstanding, representing 26.7% of total loans outstanding.
Lending Practices. The Bank generally requires that the residential real estate loan amount be no more than 80% of the purchase price or the appraised value of the real estate securing the loan, unless the borrower obtains private mortgage insurance for the percentage exceeding 80%. Occasionally, the Bank may lend up to 100% of the appraised value of the real estate. Loans made in this lending category are generally one to ten-year adjustable rate, fully amortizing to maturity mortgages. MVB Bank also originates fixed rate real estate loans and generally sells these loans in the secondary market. Most real estate loans are secured by first mortgages with evidence of title in favor of the Bank in the form of an attorney’s opinion of the title or a title insurance policy. MVB Bank also requires proof of hazard insurance with the Bank named as the mortgagee and as the loss payee. Full appraisals are obtained from licensed appraisers for the majority of loans secured by real estate.
Home Equity Loans. Home equity lines of credit are generally made as second mortgages by MVB Bank. The maximum amount of a home equity line of credit is generally limited to 80% of the appraised value of the property less the balance of the first mortgage. The Bank will lend up to 89.9% of the appraised value of the property at higher interest rates which are considered compatible with the additional risk assumed in these types of loans. The home equity lines of credit are written with 10 year terms, but are subject to review upon request for renewal.
Construction Loans. Construction financing is generally considered to involve a higher degree of risk of loss than long-term financing on improved, occupied real estate. Risk of loss on a construction loan is dependent largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the property’s value at completion of construction and the estimated cost (including interest) of construction. If the estimate of construction cost proves to be inaccurate, MVB may advance funds beyond the amount originally committed to permit completion of the project. Also, note that with respect to construction loans, the bank generally makes loans to the homeowner and not to builders. At December 31, 2016, residential mortgage construction loans to individuals totaled approximately $112.1 million with an average life of 7 months and are generally refinanced to a permanent loan upon completion of the construction.
Competition
The Company experiences significant competition in attracting depositors and borrowers. Competition in lending activities comes principally from other commercial banks, savings associations, insurance companies, governmental agencies, credit unions, brokerage firms and pension funds. The primary factors in competing for loans are interest rate and overall lending services. Competition for deposits comes from other commercial banks, savings associations, money market funds and credit unions as well as from insurance companies and brokerage firms. The primary factors in competing for deposits are interest rates paid on deposits, account liquidity, convenience of office location and overall financial condition. The Company believes that its community approach provides flexibility, which enables the Bank to offer an array of banking products and services. MVB Mortgage faces significant competition from both traditional financial institutions and other national and local mortgage banking operations.
The Company primarily focuses on the Marion, Harrison, Jefferson, Berkeley, Monongalia and Kanawha County markets in West Virginia and the northern Virginia area for its products and services. Management believes it has developed a level of expertise in serving this area.
The Company operates under a “needs-based” selling approach that management believes has proven successful in serving the financial needs of most customers. It is not the Company’s strategy to compete solely on the basis of interest rates. Management believes that a focus on customer relationships and service will promote our customers’ continued use of our financial products and services and will lead to enhanced revenue opportunities.
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Supervision and Regulation
The Company, the Bank and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation under federal and state laws. The Company’s earnings are affected by general economic conditions, management policies, changes in state and federal laws and regulations and actions of various regulatory authorities, including those referred to in this section. The following discussion describes elements of an extensive regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies, financial holding companies, and banks and contains specific information about the Company. Regulation of banks, bank holding companies, and financial holding companies is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the insurance fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the stability of the financial system, rather than for the protection of shareholders and creditors. In addition to banking laws, regulations and regulatory agencies, the Company is subject to various other laws, regulations, supervision and examination by other regulatory agencies, all of which directly or indirectly affect the operations and management of the Company and its ability to make distributions to shareholders. State and federal law govern the activities in which the Bank engages, the investments it makes, and the aggregate amount of loans that may be granted to one borrower. Various consumer and compliance laws and regulations also affect the Company’s operations. This discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations and policies that are described. Such statutes, regulations and policies are continually under review by Congress and state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies. The likelihood and timing of any such changes and the impact such changes may have on the Company is impossible to determine with any certainty. A change in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company and its subsidiary could have a material effect on our business, financial condition or our results of operations.
Financial Regulatory Reform
During the past several years, there has been a significant increase in regulation and regulatory oversight for U.S. financial services firms, primarily resulting from the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) in 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act is extensive, complicated, and comprehensive legislation that impacts practically all aspects of a banking organization, representing a significant overhaul of many aspects of the regulation of the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act implements numerous and far-reaching changes that affect financial companies, including banks, bank holding companies, and financial holding companies such as the Company. The Dodd-Frank Act imposes new prudential regulation on depository institutions and their holding companies. As such, the Company is subject to more stringent standards and requirements with respect to (1) bank and nonbank acquisitions and mergers, (2) the “financial activities” in which it engages as a financial holding company, (3) affiliate transactions and (4) proprietary trading, among other provisions.
Many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and other laws are subject to further rulemaking, guidance and interpretation by the applicable federal regulators. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of any new regulations so promulgated, including changes in regulatory costs and fees, modifications to consumer products or disclosures required by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and the requirements of the enhanced supervision provisions, among others.
Regulatory Agencies
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiaries. As a financial holding company and a bank holding company, the Company is regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”), and it and its subsidiary are subject to inspection, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve Board”). The BHCA provides generally for “umbrella” regulation of financial holding companies such as the Company by the Federal Reserve Board, and for functional regulation of banking activities by bank regulators, securities activities by securities regulators, and insurance activities by insurance regulators. The Company is also under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as administered by the SEC.
The Bank is a West Virginia state chartered bank. The Bank is not a member bank of the Federal Reserve System (“non-member bank”). Accordingly, the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions and the FDIC are the primary regulators of the Bank.
Bank Holding Company Activities
In general, the BHCA limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks and other activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. In addition, bank holding companies that qualify and elect to be financial holding companies may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in any activity, that is either (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial
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activity (as determined by the Federal Reserve Board in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury) or (ii) complementary to a financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally (as solely determined by the Federal Reserve Board), without prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments. Under current federal law, as a bank holding company, the Company has elected to become a financial holding company.
Most of the financial activities that are permissible for financial holding companies also are permissible for a bank’s “financial subsidiary,” except for insurance underwriting, insurance company portfolio investments, real estate investments and development, and merchant banking, which must be conducted by a financial holding company. In order for a financial subsidiary of a bank to engage in permissible financial activities, federal law requires the parent bank (and its sister-bank affiliates) to be well capitalized and well managed; the aggregate consolidated assets of all of that bank’s financial subsidiaries may not exceed the lesser of 45% of its consolidated total assets or $50 billion; the bank must have at least a satisfactory CRA rating.
To maintain financial holding company status, a financial holding company and all of its depository institution subsidiaries must be “well capitalized” and “well managed” under applicable Federal Reserve Board regulations. A depository institution subsidiary is considered to be “well capitalized” if it satisfies the requirements for this status discussed in the sections captioned “Capital Requirements” and “Prompt Corrective Action,” included elsewhere in this item. A depository institution subsidiary is considered “well managed” if it received a composite rating and management rating of at least “satisfactory” in its most recent examination. If a financial holding company ceases to meet these capital and management requirements, the Federal Reserve Board’s regulations provide that the financial holding company must enter into an agreement with the Federal Reserve Board to comply with all applicable capital and management requirements. Until the financial holding company returns to compliance, the Federal Reserve Board may impose limitations or conditions on the conduct of its activities, and the company may not commence any of the broader financial activities permissible for financial holding companies or acquire a company engaged in such financial activities without prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. If the company does not return to compliance within 180 days, the Federal Reserve Board may require divestiture of the holding company’s depository institutions. Bank holding companies and banks must also be both well capitalized and well managed in order to acquire banks located outside their home state.
In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHCA or to acquire a company engaged in any new activity permitted by the BHCA, each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must have received a rating of at least “satisfactory” in its most recent examination under the Community Reinvestment Act. See the section captioned “Community Reinvestment Act” included elsewhere in this item.
The Federal Reserve Board has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve Board has reasonable grounds to believe that continuation of such activity or such ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.
Current federal law establishes a system of functional regulation under which the Federal Reserve Board is the umbrella regulator for bank holding companies, but bank holding company affiliates are principally regulated by functional regulators such as the FDIC for state nonmember bank affiliates, and state insurance regulators for insurance affiliates. Certain specific activities, including traditional bank trust and fiduciary activities, may be conducted in the bank without the bank being deemed a “broker” or a “dealer” in securities for purposes of functional regulation. Although states generally must regulate bank insurance activities in a nondiscriminatory manner, states may continue to adopt and enforce rules that specifically regulate bank insurance activities in certain identifiable areas.
Acquisitions
The BHCA, the Bank Merger Act, West Virginia banking law, and other federal and state statutes regulate acquisitions of commercial banks and their parent holding companies. The BHCA requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board for the direct or indirect acquisition by a bank holding company of more than 5.0% of the voting shares of a commercial bank or its parent holding company. Under the Bank Merger Act, the prior approval of the FDIC or other appropriate bank regulatory authority is required for a non-member bank to merge with another bank or purchase substantially all of the assets or assume any deposits of another bank. In reviewing applications seeking approval of merger and acquisition transactions, the bank regulatory authorities will consider, among other things, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transactions, the capital position of the combined organization, the risks to the stability of the U.S. banking or financial system, the applicant’s performance record under the Community Reinvestment Act (see the section captioned “Community Reinvestment Act” included elsewhere in this
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item) and its compliance with consumer protection laws and the effectiveness of the subject organizations in combating money laundering activities.
Current federal law authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies without geographic limitation. Furthermore, a bank headquartered in one state is authorized to merge with a bank headquartered in another state, subject to market share limitations and any state requirement that the target bank shall have been in existence and operating for a minimum period of time. After a bank has established branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction, the bank may establish and acquire additional branches at any location in the state where a bank headquartered in that state could have established or acquired branches under applicable federal or state law. These regulatory considerations are applicable to privately negotiated acquisition transactions.
The Federal Reserve Board has issued rules implementing section 622 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which generally prohibits a financial company from combining with another company if the ratio of the resulting company's liabilities exceeds 10% of the aggregate consolidated liabilities of all financial companies.
Other Safety and Soundness Regulations
The Federal Reserve Board has enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their nonbanking subsidiaries. The Federal Reserve Board has authority to prohibit activities that represent unsafe or unsound practices or constitute violations of law, rule, regulation, administrative order or written agreement with a federal regulator. These powers may be exercised through the issuance of cease and desist orders, civil money penalties or other actions.
Federal and state banking regulators also have broad enforcement powers over the Bank, including the power to impose fines and other civil and criminal penalties, and to appoint a receiver in order to conserve the assets of the Bank for the benefit of depositors and other creditors. The West Virginia commissioner of banking also has the authority to take possession of a West Virginia state bank in certain circumstances, including, among other things, when it appears necessary in order to protect or preserve the assets of that bank for the benefit of depositors and other creditors.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA PATRIOT Act
A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, or the USA Patriot Act, substantially broadened the scope of United States anti-money laundering laws and regulations by imposing significant new compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties and expanding the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The USA Patriot Act contains anti-money laundering measures affecting insured depository institutions, broker-dealers and certain other financial institutions. Financial institutions are prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and account relationships and must use enhanced due diligence procedures in their dealings with certain types of high-risk customers and implement a written customer identification program. Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions. The USA Patriot Act includes the International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, which grants the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury broad authority to establish regulations and to impose requirements and restrictions on financial institutions’ operations. The U.S. Treasury has issued a number of regulations to implement the USA Patriot Act under this authority requiring financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing. Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with these obligations, and failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.
Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. We are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could
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have serious legal and reputational consequences, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
Incentive Compensation
The Federal Reserve Board reviews, as part of its regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as the Company, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews are tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of this supervisory initiative will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
In June 2010, the Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), and FDIC issued comprehensive final guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or as part of a group, is based upon the key principles that a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage risks, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management, and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors.
In June 2016, the Federal Reserve Board, other federal banking agencies, and the SEC jointly published a proposed rulemaking designed to strengthen the incentive-based compensation practices at covered institutions by better aligning the financial rewards for covered persons with an institution's long-term safety and soundness. The proposed rule uses a tiered approach that applies provisions to covered financial institutions according to three categories of average total consolidated assets: Level 1 ($250 billion or more), Level 2 ($50 billion to $250 billion), and Level 3 ($1 billion to $50 billion). For all covered institutions, the proposed rule would (i) prohibit types and features of incentive-based compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risks because they are "excessive" or "could lead to material financial loss" at a covered institution, (ii) require incentive-based compensation arrangements to adhere to three basic principles: (1) a balance between risk and reward; (2) effective risk management and controls; and (3) effective governance, and (iii) require appropriate board or directors (or committee) oversight and record keeping and disclosures to the appropriate agency. For Level 1 and Level 2 institutions, the proposed rule would (i) require the following: the deferral of awards for senior executive officers and significant risk takers; the subjecting of unpaid and unvested incentive compensation to the risk of downward adjustments or forfeiture; the subjecting of paid incentive compensation to the risk of "clawback;" establishing a board compensation committee; expanded risk-management and control standards; additional record keeping requirements for senior executive officers and significant risk takers; and detailed policies and procedures to ensure rule compliance and (ii) prohibit certain inappropriate practices, including: the purchase of hedging instruments that offset decreases in the value of incentive compensation; allowing a range of payouts that might encourage risk taking; and basing compensation solely on comparison to peer and volume-driven incentives without regard to transaction quality or compliance with sound risk management. The comment period ended in July 2016.
If these or other regulations are adopted in a form similar to that initially proposed, they will impose limitations on the manner in which we may structure compensation for our executives.
The scope and content of the U.S. banking regulators’ policies on incentive compensation are continuing to develop. It cannot be determined at this time whether or when a final rule will be adopted and whether compliance with such a final rule will adversely affect the ability of the Company and its subsidiary to hire, retain and motivate their key employees.
The Volcker Rule
The Volcker Rule implements section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act and prohibits insured depository institutions and affiliated companies (together, “banking entities”) from engaging in short-term proprietary trading of certain securities, derivatives, and commodity futures, and options on these instruments, for their own account. The final rules adopted by federal financial regulatory agencies to implement section 619 also impose limits on banking entities’ investments in, and other relationships with, hedge funds or private equity funds. Like the Dodd-Frank Act, the rules provide exemptions for certain activities, including market making, underwriting, hedging, trading in government obligations, insurance company activities, and organizing and
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offering hedge funds or private equity funds. The rules also clarify that certain activities are not prohibited, including acting as agent, broker or custodian.
The compliance requirements under the rules vary based on the size of the banking entity and the scope of activities conducted. Banking entities with significant trading operations will be required to establish a detailed compliance program, and their Chief Executive Officers will be required to attest that the program is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the final rules. Independent testing and analysis of an institution's compliance program also will be required. The final rules reduce the burden on smaller, less-complex institutions by limiting their compliance and reporting requirements. Additionally, a banking entity that does not engage in covered trading activities will not need to establish a compliance program.
Banking entities must conform their proprietary trading activities to the final rule by July 21, 2015. The Federal Reserve Board has extended the compliance deadline to July 21, 2017 for purposes of conforming investments in and relationships with covered funds and foreign funds that were in place prior to December 31, 2013. These requirements are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Volcker Rule does not significantly impact the operations of the Company and its subsidiary, as we do not have any significant engagement in the businesses prohibited by the Volcker Rule.
Limit on Dividends
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s ability to obtain funds for the payment of dividends and for other cash requirements largely depends on the amount of dividends the Bank declares. However, the Federal Reserve Board expects the Company to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to the Bank to reduce potential loss exposure to the Bank’s depositors and to the FDIC insurance fund in the event the Bank becomes is insolvent or is in danger of becoming insolvent. Under this requirement, the Company is expected to commit resources to support the Bank, including at times when the Company may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by the Company to the Bank would be subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of the Bank. In the event of the Company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the Company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of the Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
Accordingly, the Federal Reserve Board may require the Company to retain capital for further investment in the Bank, rather than pay dividends to its shareholders. The Bank may not pay dividends to the Company if, after paying those dividends, the Bank would fail to meet the required minimum levels under the risk-based capital guidelines and the minimum leverage ratio requirements. The Bank must have the approval from the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions if a dividend in any year would cause the total dividends for that year to exceed the sum of the current year’s net earnings as defined and the retained earnings for the preceding two years as defined, less required transfers to surplus. These provisions could limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends on its outstanding common shares.
In addition, the Company and the Bank are subject to other regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory minimums (See “Capital Requirements”, below). The appropriate federal regulatory authority is authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. The appropriate federal regulatory authorities have stated that paying dividends that deplete a bank’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. In addition, in the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong.
Transactions with Affiliates
Transactions between the Bank and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company or any other subsidiary, on the other hand, are regulated under federal banking law. The Federal Reserve Act, made applicable by section 8(j) of the FDIA, imposes quantitative and qualitative requirements and collateral requirements on covered transactions by the Bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates, and generally requires those transactions to be on terms at least as favorable to the Bank as if the transaction were conducted with an unaffiliated third party. Covered transactions are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit, as well as a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets (unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Reserve Board) from the affiliate, certain derivative transactions that create a credit exposure to an affiliate, the acceptance of securities issued by the affiliate as collateral for a loan, and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an
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affiliate. In general, any such transaction by the Bank or its subsidiaries must be limited to certain thresholds on an individual and aggregate basis and, for credit transactions with any affiliate, must be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral.
Federal law also limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. Also, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of non-repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons individually and in the aggregate.
Capital Requirements
The Company and the Bank are each required to comply with applicable capital adequacy standards established by the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, respectively (“Capital Rules”). State chartered banks, such as the Bank, are subject to similar capital requirements adopted by the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.
The Capital Rules, among other things, (i) include a “Common Equity Tier 1” (“CET1”) measure, (ii) specify that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier 1 capital” instruments meeting certain revised requirements, (iii) define CET1 narrowly by requiring that most deductions/adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital, and (iv) expand the scope of the deductions/adjustments to capital as compared to existing regulations.
Under the Capital Rules, the minimum capital ratios effective as of January 1, 2015 are:
•4.5% CET1 to risk-weighted assets;
•6.0% Tier 1 capital (that is, CET1 plus Additional Tier 1 capital) to risk-weighted assets;
•8.0% Total capital (that is, Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets; and
•4.0% Tier 1 capital to average consolidated assets as reported on consolidated financial statements (known as the
leverage ratio”).
The Capital Rules also include a new “capital conservation buffer”, composed entirely of CET1, on top of these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. The implementation of the capital conservation buffer began on January 1, 2016 at the 0.625% level and will increase by 0.625% on each subsequent January 1, until it reaches 2.5% on January 1, 2019. The Capital Rules also provide for a “countercyclical capital buffer” that is only applicable to certain covered institutions and does not have any current applicability to the Company or the Bank. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress and effectively increases the minimum required risk-weighted capital ratios. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets below the effective minimum (4.5% plus the capital conservation buffer and, if applicable, the countercyclical capital buffer) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.
When fully phased in on January 1, 2019, the Capital Rules will require the Company and the Bank to maintain an additional capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of CET1, effectively resulting in minimum ratios of (i) CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%, (ii) Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.5%, (iii) a minimum ratio of Total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 10.5%; and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%. The Capital Rules also provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1.
The Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings that expanded the risk-weighting categories from the general risk-based capital rules to a much larger and more risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. government and agency securities, to 600% for certain equity exposures, and resulting in higher risk weights for a variety of asset categories.
With respect to the Bank, the Capital Rules also revise the “prompt corrective action” regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as discussed below under “Prompt Corrective Action.”
Prompt Corrective Action
The FDIA requires among other things, the federal banking agencies to take “prompt corrective action” in respect of depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDIA includes the following five capital tiers: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” A depository
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institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. The relevant capital measures, which reflect changes under the Capital Rules that became effective on January 1, 2015, are the total capital ratio, the CET1 capital ratio, the Tier 1 capital ratio and the leverage ratio.
A bank will be (i) “well capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a CET1 capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to any order or written directive by any such regulatory authority to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure; (ii) “adequately capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a CET1 capital ratio of 4.5% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater and is not “well capitalized”; (iii) “undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a CET1 capital ratio less than 4.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0% or a leverage ratio of less than 4.0%; (iv) “significantly undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a CET1 capital ratio less than 3.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0% or a leverage ratio of less than 3.0%; and (v) “critically undercapitalized” if the institution’s tangible equity is equal to or less than 2.0% of average quarterly tangible assets. An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.
The FDIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distributions (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be “undercapitalized.” “Undercapitalized” institutions are subject to growth limitations and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. The agencies may not accept such a plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository institution’s capital. In addition, for a capital restoration plan to be acceptable, the depository institution’s parent holding company must guarantee that the institution will comply with such capital restoration plan. The bank holding company must also provide appropriate assurances of performance. The aggregate liability of the parent holding company is limited to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to 5.0% of the depository institution’s total assets at the time it became undercapitalized and (ii) the amount which is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the institution into compliance with all capital standards applicable with respect to such institution as of the time it fails to comply with the plan. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly undercapitalized.”
“Significantly undercapitalized” depository institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become “adequately capitalized,” requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. “Critically undercapitalized” institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator.
The appropriate federal banking agency may, under certain circumstances, reclassify a well capitalized insured depository institution as adequately capitalized. The FDIA provides that an institution may be reclassified if the appropriate federal banking agency determines (after notice and opportunity for hearing) that the institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition or deems the institution to be engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice. The appropriate agency is also permitted to require an adequately capitalized or undercapitalized institution to comply with the supervisory provisions as if the institution were in the next lower category (but not treat a significantly undercapitalized institution as critically undercapitalized) based on supervisory information other than the capital levels of the institution.
In addition to the “prompt corrective action” directives, failure to meet capital guidelines may subject a banking organization to a variety of other enforcement remedies, including additional substantial restrictions on its operations and
activities, termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC and, under certain conditions, the appointment of a conservator or receiver.
For further information regarding the capital ratios and leverage ratio of the Company and the Bank see the discussion under the section captioned “Capital/Stockholders’ Equity” included in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 14, “Regulatory Capital Requirements” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The FDIA requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to prescribe standards, by regulations or guidelines, relating to internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure,
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asset growth, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agencies deem appropriate. Guidelines adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of the FDIA. See “Prompt Corrective Action” above. If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the agency may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
Deposit Insurance
The Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the limits set forth under applicable law. The FDIC imposes a risk-based deposit premium assessment system that determines assessment rates for an insured depository institution based on an assessment rate calculator, which is based on a number of elements to measure the risk each insured depository institution poses to the FDIC insurance fund. The assessment rate is applied to total average assets less tangible equity, as defined under the Dodd-Frank Act. The assessment rate schedule can change from time to time at the discretion of the FDIC, subject to certain limits. Under the current system, premiums are assessed quarterly.
Under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.
Depositor Preference
The FDIA provides that, in the event of the “liquidation or other resolution” of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution, including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver, will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. If an insured depository institution fails, insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured, non-deposit creditors, including depositors whose deposits are payable only outside of the United States and the parent bank holding company, with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution.
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) membership
The FHLB provides credit to its members in the form of advances. As a member of the FHLB of Pittsburgh, the Bank must maintain an investment in the capital stock of that FHLB in an amount equal to 0.10% of the calculated Member Asset Value (“MAV”) plus 4.00% of outstanding advances and 0.75% of outstanding letters of credit. The MAV is determined by taking line item values for various investment and loan classes and applying an FHLB haircut to each item. At December 31, 2016, the Bank held capital stock of FHLB in the amount of $5.8 million.
Federal and State Consumer Laws
The Company and the Bank are subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern our relationship with our customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act and these laws’ respective state-law counterparts, as well as state usury laws and laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices. These and other federal laws, among other things, require disclosures of the cost of credit and terms of deposit accounts, provide substantive consumer rights, prohibit discrimination in credit transactions, regulate the use of credit report information, provide financial privacy protections, prohibit unfair, deceptive and abusive practices, restrict our ability to raise interest rates and subject us to substantial regulatory oversight. Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorneys’ fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorneys general, and state and local consumer protection
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agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements and obtain these and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by the state and local attorneys general in each jurisdiction in which we operate and civil money penalties. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.
CFPB
The CFPB is a federal agency responsible for implementing, examining and enforcing compliance with federal consumer protection laws. The CFPB focuses on:
• | Risks to consumers and compliance with the federal consumer financial laws, when it evaluates the policies and practices of a financial institution. |
• | The markets in which firms operate and risks to consumers posed by activities in those markets. |
• | Depository institutions that offer a wide variety of consumer financial products and services. |
• | Depository institutions with a more specialized focus. |
• | Non-depository companies that offer one or more consumer financial products or services. |
The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer financial laws that apply to all banks, including the Bank, addressing, among other things, the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. Abusive acts or practices are defined as those that materially interfere with a consumer’s ability to understand a term or condition of a consumer financial product or service or take unreasonable advantage of a consumer’s (i) lack of financial savvy, (ii) inability to protect himself in the selection or use of consumer financial products or services, or (iii) reasonable reliance on a covered entity to act in the consumer’s interests. The CFPB can issue cease-and-desist orders against banks and other entities that violate consumer financial laws. The CFPB may also institute a civil action against an entity in violation of federal consumer financial law in order to impose a civil penalty or injunction. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, as well as their affiliates, which authority would not apply to the Company or the Bank.
The Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and standards that are more stringent than those adopted at the federal level and, in certain circumstances, permits state attorneys general to enforce compliance with both the state and federal laws and regulations.
The CFPB has concentrated much of its rulemaking efforts on a variety of mortgage-related topics required under the Dodd-Frank Act, including mortgage origination disclosures, minimum underwriting standards and ability to repay, high-cost mortgage lending, and servicing practices. The rules related to ability to repay, qualified mortgage standards and mortgage servicing became effective in January 2014. The escrow and loan originator compensation rules became effective during 2013. A final rule integrating disclosure required by the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act became effective August 1, 2015.
Financial Privacy
Federal law currently contains extensive customer privacy protection provisions, including substantial customer privacy protections provided under the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (commonly known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act). Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, at the inception of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. These provisions also provide that, except for certain limited exceptions, an institution may not provide such personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that such information may be so provided and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. Federal law makes it a criminal offense, except in limited circumstances, to obtain or attempt to obtain customer information of a financial nature by fraudulent or deceptive means.
Automated Overdraft Payment Regulation
The Federal Reserve Board and FDIC have adopted consumer protection regulations and guidance related to automated overdraft payment programs offered by financial institutions. Regulation E prohibits financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on automated teller machine and one-time debit card transactions, unless a consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service for those types of transactions. Financial institutions must also provide consumers with a notice that explains the financial institution’s overdraft services, including the fees associated with the service and the consumer’s choices. In addition,
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FDIC-supervised institutions must monitor overdraft payment programs for “excessive or chronic” customer use and undertake “meaningful and effective” follow-up action with customers that overdraw their accounts more than six times during a rolling 12-month period. Financial institutions must also impose daily limits on overdraft charges, review and modify check-clearing procedures, prominently distinguish account balances from available overdraft coverage amounts and ensure board and management oversight regarding overdraft payment programs.
Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”) requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas consistent with safe and sound banking practice. Under the CRA, each depository institution is required to help meet the credit needs of its market areas by, among other things, providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. The CRA requires the Bank’s primary federal bank regulatory agency, the FDIC, to assess the bank’s record in meeting the credit needs of the communities served by the bank, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and persons. Institutions are assigned one of four ratings: “Outstanding,” “Satisfactory,” “Needs to Improve” or “Substantial Noncompliance.”
In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHCA, or to acquire any company engaged in any new activity permitted by the BHCA, each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must have received a rating of at least “satisfactory” in its most recent examination under the CRA. Furthermore, banking regulators take into account CRA ratings when considering a request for an approval of a proposed transaction to consolidate with or acquire the assets or assume the liabilities of an insured depository institution, or to open or relocate a branch office.
Cybersecurity
In March 2015, federal regulators issued two related statements regarding cybersecurity. One statement indicates that financial institutions should design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing internet-based services of the financial institution. The other statement indicates that a financial institution’s management is expected to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure the rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution’s operations after a cyber-attack involving destructive malware. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to enable recovery of data and business operations and address rebuilding network capabilities and restoring data if the institution or its critical service providers fall victim to this type of cyber-attack. If we fail to observe the regulatory guidance, we could be subject to various regulatory sanctions, including financial penalties.
In the ordinary course of business, we rely on electronic communications and information systems to conduct our operations and to store sensitive data. We employ a variety of preventative and detective tools to monitor, block, and provide alerts regarding suspicious activity, as well as to report on any suspected advanced persistent threats. Notwithstanding our defensive measures, the threat from cyber-attacks is severe, attacks are sophisticated and increasing in volume, and attackers respond rapidly to changes in defensive measures. While to date, we are not aware that we have experienced a significant compromise, significant data loss or any material financial losses related to cybersecurity attacks, our systems and those of our customers and third-party service providers are under constant threat and it is possible that we could experience a significant event in the future. Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity attacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats, as well as due to the expanding use of Internet banking, mobile banking and other technology-based products and services by us and our customers. [For further discussion of risks related to cybersecurity, see Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.]
Monetary Policy and Economic Conditions
The business of financial institutions is affected not only by general economic conditions, but also by the policies of various governmental regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board regulates money and credit conditions and interest rates to influence general economic conditions primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings and changes in the reserve requirements against depository institutions’ deposits. These policies and regulations significantly affect the overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, and the interest rates charged on loans, as well as the interest rates paid on deposit accounts.
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The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of financial institutions in the past and are expected to continue to have significant effects in the future. In view of the changing conditions in the economy and the money markets and the activities of monetary and fiscal authorities, the Company cannot predict future changes in interest rates, credit availability or deposit levels.
Effect of Environmental Regulation
The Company’s primary exposure to environmental risk is through its lending activities. In cases when management believes environmental risk potentially exists, the Company mitigates its environmental risk exposures by requiring environmental site assessments at the time of loan origination to confirm collateral quality as to commercial real estate parcels posing higher than normal potential for environmental impact, as determined by reference to present and past uses of the subject property and adjacent sites. Environmental assessments are typically required prior to any foreclosure activity involving non-residential real estate collateral.
With regard to residential real estate lending, management reviews those loans with inherent environmental risk on an individual basis and makes decisions based on the dollar amount of the loan and the materiality of the specific credit.
The Company anticipates no material effect on anticipated capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position as a result of compliance with federal, state or local environmental protection laws or regulations.
Other Regulatory Matters
The Company is subject to examinations and investigations by federal and state banking regulators, as well as the SEC, various taxing authorities and various state regulators. The Company periodically receives requests for information from regulatory authorities in various states, including state insurance commissions and state attorneys general, securities regulators and other regulatory authorities, concerning the Company’s business and accounting practices. Such requests are considered incidental to the normal conduct of business.
Future Legislation and Regulation
Congress may enact legislation from time to time that affects the regulation of the financial services industry, and state legislatures may enact legislation from time to time affecting the regulation of financial institutions chartered by or operating in those states. Federal and state regulatory agencies also periodically propose and adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. The substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulation, or the application thereof, cannot be predicted, although enactment of the proposed legislation could impact the regulatory structure under which we operate and may significantly increase costs, impede the efficiency of internal business processes, require an increase in regulatory capital, require modifications to our business strategy, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. A change in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Corporate and available information
We file reports with the SEC, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any other filings required by the SEC. We make available on our Investor Relations website, free of charge, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC.
The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent to our business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the
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risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations. This Annual Report on Form 10-K is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
References to “we,” “us,” and “our” in this “Risk Factors” section refer to the Company and its subsidiary, including the Bank, unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires.
Risks Related To Our Business
Our business depends upon the general economic conditions of the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and may be adversely affected by downturns in these and the other local economies in which we operate.
In recent years, economic growth and business activity across a wide range of industries and regions in the U.S. has been slow and uneven. Furthermore, there are continuing concerns related to the level of U.S. government debt and fiscal actions that may be taken to address that debt. There can be no assurance that economic conditions will continue to improve, and these conditions could worsen. In addition, oil price volatility, the level of U.S. debt and global economic conditions have had a destabilizing effect on financial markets.
Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services we offer, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets where we operate, including the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment, natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.
Overall, during recent years, the business environment has been adverse for many households and businesses in the United States and worldwide. While economic conditions in the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United States and worldwide have shown signs of improvement, there can be no assurance that this improvement will continue. Economic pressure on consumers and uncertainty regarding continuing economic improvement may result in changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing and savings habits. Such conditions, combined with continued oil price volatility, could have a material adverse effect on the credit quality of our loans and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant portion of our loans are secured by real estate concentrated in the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, which may adversely affect our earnings and capital if real estate values decline.
Nearly 77.8% of our total loans are real estate interests (residential, nonresidential including both owner-occupied and investment real estate, and construction and land development) mainly concentrated in the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, a relatively small geographic area. As a result, declining real estate values in these markets could negatively impact the value of the real estate collateral securing such loans. If we are required to liquidate a significant amount of collateral during a period of reduced real estate values in satisfaction of any non-performing or defaulted loans, our earnings and capital could be adversely affected.
Our nonresidential real estate loans expose us to greater risks of nonpayment and loss than residential mortgage loans, which may cause us to increase our allowance for loan losses which would reduce our net income.
At December 31, 2016, $772.0 million, or 73.3%, of our loan portfolio consisted of nonresidential real estate loans. Nonresidential real estate loans generally expose a lender to greater risk of non-payment and loss than residential mortgage loans because repayment of the loans often depends on the successful operation of the property and the income stream of the borrowers. Such loans expose us to additional risks because they typically are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayments from the cash flow of the borrower’s business and are secured by collateral that may depreciate over time. These
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loans typically involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to residential mortgage loans. Because such loans generally entail greater risk than residential mortgage loans, we may need to increase our allowance for loan losses in the future to account for the likely increase in probable incurred credit losses associated with the growth of such loans, which would reduce our net income. Also, many of our nonresidential real estate borrowers have more than one loan outstanding with us. Consequently, an adverse development with respect to one loan or one credit relationship can expose us to a significantly greater risk of loss compared to an adverse development with respect to a residential mortgage loan.
Our allowance for loan losses could become inadequate and reduce earnings and capital.
The Bank maintains an allowance for loan losses that it believes is adequate for absorbing the estimated future losses inherent in its loan portfolio. Management conducts a periodic review and consideration of the loan portfolio to determine the amount of the allowance for loan losses based upon general market conditions, credit quality of the loan portfolio and performance of the Bank’s clients relative to their financial obligations with it. The amount of future losses, however, is susceptible to changes in economic and other market conditions, including changes in interest rates and collateral values, which are beyond the Bank’s control, and these future losses may exceed its current estimates. Management performs stress tests on the loan portfolios to estimate future loan losses, but there can be no absolute assurance that additional provisions for loan losses will not be required in the future, including as a result of changes in the economic assumptions underlying management’s estimates and judgments, adverse developments in the economy on a national basis or in the Bank’s market area, or changes in the circumstances of particular borrowers. Although management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable losses in its loan portfolio, we cannot predict with absolute certainty the amount of such losses or guarantee that the allowance will be adequate in the future. Excessive loan losses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The profitability of MVB Mortgage will be significantly reduced if we are not able to sell mortgages.
Currently, we generally sell all of the mortgage loans originated by MVB Mortgage. We only underwrite mortgages that we reasonably expect will have more than one potential purchaser. The profitability of our Mortgage Subsidiary depends in large part upon our ability to originate a high volume of loans and to sell them in the secondary market. Thus, we are dependent upon (i) the existence of an active secondary market and (ii) our ability to sell loans into that market.
MVB Mortgage’s ability to sell mortgage loans readily is dependent upon the availability of an active secondary market for single-family mortgage loans, which in turn depends in part upon the continuation of programs currently offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and other institutional and non-institutional investors. These entities account for a substantial portion of the secondary market in residential mortgage loans. Some of the largest participants in the secondary market, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are government-sponsored enterprises with substantial market influence whose activities are governed by federal law. Any future changes in laws that significantly affect the activity of these government-sponsored enterprises and other institutional and non-institutional investors or any impairment of our ability to participate in such programs could, in turn, adversely affect our operations.
Our largest source of revenue (net interest income) is subject to interest rate risk.
The Bank’s financial condition and results of operations are significantly affected by changes in interest rates. The Bank’s earnings depend primarily upon its net interest income, which is the difference between its interest income earned on its interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and its interest expense paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Moreover, the loans included in our interest-earning assets are primarily comprised of variable and adjustable rate loans. Net interest income is subject to interest rate risk in the following ways:
• | In general, for a given change in interest rates, the amount of change in value (positive or negative) is larger for assets and liabilities with longer remaining maturities. The shape of the yield curve may affect new loan yields, funding costs and investment income differently. |
• | The remaining maturity of various assets or liabilities may shorten or lengthen as payment behavior changes in response to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates decline sharply, loans may pre-pay, or pay down, faster than anticipated, thus reducing future cash flows and interest income. Conversely, if interest rates increase, depositors may cash in their certificates of deposit prior to maturity (notwithstanding any applicable early withdrawal penalties) or otherwise reduce their deposits to pursue higher yielding investment alternatives. |
• | Re-pricing frequencies and maturity profiles for assets and liabilities may occur at different times. For example, in a falling rate environment, if assets re-price faster than liabilities, there will be an initial decline in earnings. Moreover, if |
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assets and liabilities re-price at the same time, they may not be by the same increment. For instance, if the Federal Funds Rate increased 50 basis points, rates on demand deposits may rise by 10 basis points; whereas rates on prime-based loans will instantly rise 50 basis points.
Financial instruments do not respond in a parallel fashion to rising or falling interest rates. This causes asymmetry in the magnitude of changes to net interest income, net economic value and investment income resulting from the hypothetical increases and decreases in interest rates. Therefore, the Company’s management monitors interest rate risk and adjusts the Company’s funding strategies to mitigate adverse effects of interest rate shifts on the Company’s balance sheet. Interest rate risk is more fully described under the section captioned "Interest Rate Risk" in Item 1, Business, and under the section captioned "Asset/Liability Management and Market Risk" in Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our accounting policies and estimates are critical to how we report our financial condition and results cf operations, and any changes to such accounting policies and estimates could materially affect how we report our financial condition and results cf operations.
Accounting policies and estimates are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management makes judgments and assumptions in selecting and adopting various accounting policies and in applying estimates so that such policies and estimates comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
Management has identified certain accounting policies as being critical because they require management’s judgment to ascertain the valuations of assets, liabilities, commitments and contingencies. A variety of factors could affect the ultimate value that is obtained either when earning income, recognizing an expense, recovering an asset, valuing an asset or liability or reducing a liability. We have established detailed policies and control procedures that are intended to ensure that these critical accounting estimates and judgments are well controlled and applied consistently. In addition, these policies and procedures are intended to ensure that the process for changing methodologies occurs in an appropriate manner. Because of the uncertainty surrounding our judgments and the estimates pertaining to these matters, actual outcomes may be materially different from amounts previously estimated. For example, because of the inherent uncertainty of estimates, management cannot provide any assurance that the Bank will not significantly increase its allowance for loan losses if actual losses are more than the amount reserved. Any increase in its allowance for loan losses or loan charge-offs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot guarantee that we will not be required to adjust accounting policies or restate prior financial statements. See the section captioned “Allowance for Loan Losses” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, located elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion related to our process for determining the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses.
Further, from time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. The ongoing economic recession has resulted in increased scrutiny of accounting standards by legislators and our regulators, particularly as they relate to fair value accounting principles. In addition, ongoing efforts to achieve convergence between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards may result in changes to GAAP. These changes can be hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in our restating prior period financial statements or otherwise adversely affecting our financial condition or results of operations.
Our profitability depends significantly on economic conditions in the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Our success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia and the specific local markets in which we operate. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services primarily to customers across West Virginia and Virginia. The local economic conditions in these areas have a significant impact on the demand for our products and services as well as the ability of our customers to repay loans, the value of the collateral securing loans and the stability of our deposit funding sources. Moreover, approximately 19.5% of the securities in our municipal securities portfolio were issued by political subdivisions or agencies within the State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. A significant decline in general economic conditions in State of West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, whether caused by recession, inflation, unemployment, changes in oil prices, changes in securities markets, acts of terrorism, outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic occurrences or other factors could impact these local economic conditions and, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We may be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions.
Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other relationships. We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks, and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or derivative exposure due to us. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by changes in U.S. tax and other laws and regulations.
The U.S. Congress and the Administration have indicated an interest in reforming the U.S. corporate income tax code. Possible approaches include lowering the 35 percent corporate tax rate, limiting or eliminating various other deductions, tax credits and/or other tax preferences. It is not possible at this time to quantify either the one-time impacts from the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities that might result upon tax reform enactment or the ongoing impacts reform proposals might have on income tax expense.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.
We face substantial competition in all areas of our operations from a variety of different competitors, many of which are larger and may have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national, regional, and community banks within the various markets where we operate. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including, without limitation, savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Also, technology and other changes have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. For example, consumers can maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. Further, many of our competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures. Additionally, due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services as well as better pricing for those products and services than we can.
Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including, among other things:
• | The ability to develop, maintain and build long-term customer relationships based on top quality service, high ethical standards and safe, sound assets. |
• | The ability to expand our market position. |
• | The scope, relevance and pricing of products and services offered to meet customer needs and demands. |
• | The rate at which we introduce new products and services relative to our competitors. |
• | Customer satisfaction with our level of service. |
• | Industry and general economic trends. |
Failure to perform in any of these areas could significantly weaken our competitive position, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to extensive government regulation and supervision and possible enforcement and other legal actions.
We, primarily through the Bank and certain non-bank subsidiaries, are subject to extensive federal and state regulation and
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supervision, which vests a significant amount of discretion in the various regulatory authorities. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not security holders. These regulations and supervisory guidance affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted in July 2010, instituted major changes to the banking and financial institutions regulatory regimes. Other changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies or supervisory guidance, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, policies or supervisory guidance, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject us to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products we may offer and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Failure to comply with laws, regulations, policies or supervisory guidance could result in enforcement and other legal actions by Federal or state authorities, including criminal and civil penalties, the loss of FDIC insurance, the revocation of a banking charter, other sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputational damage. In this regard, government authorities, including the bank regulatory agencies, are pursuing aggressive enforcement actions with respect to compliance and other legal matters involving financial activities, which heightens the risks associated with actual and perceived compliance failures. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For further detail, see the sections captioned “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1, Business, and Note 14, “Regulatory Capital Requirements” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Failure to meet any of the various capital adequacy guidelines which we are subject to could adversely affect our operations and could compromise the status of the Company as a financial holding company.
The Company and the Bank are required to meet certain regulatory capital adequacy guidelines and other regulatory requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the U.S. Department of Treasury. If the Company or the Bank fails to meet these minimum capital guidelines and other regulatory requirements, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected and could compromise the status of the Company as a banking holding company. See the sections captioned “Supervision and Regulation—Capital Requirements” in Item 1, Business, and Note 14, “Regulatory Capital Requirements” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for detailed capital guidelines for bank holding companies and banks.
Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting models which may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate.
The processes we use to estimate our inherent loan losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and results of operations, depends upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. These models reflect assumptions that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Even if these assumptions are adequate, the models may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation. If the models we use for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate, we may incur increased or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures. If the models we use for determining our probable loan losses are inadequate, the allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to support future charge-offs. If the models we use to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instruments may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what we could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in our analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The repeal of federal prohibitions on payment of interest on demand deposits could increase our interest expense.
All federal prohibitions on the ability of financial institutions to pay interest on demand deposit accounts were repealed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act beginning on July 21, 2011. As a result, some financial institutions have commenced offering interest on demand deposits to compete for customers. We do not yet know what interest rates other institutions may offer as market interest rates begin to increase. Our interest expense will increase and our net interest margin will decrease if we begin offering interest on demand deposits to attract additional customers or maintain current customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations
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The value of the securities in our investment securities portfolio may be negatively affected by disruptions in securities markets.
Due to credit and liquidity risks and economic volatility, making the determination of the value of a securities portfolio is less certain. There can be no assurance that decline in market value associated with these disruptions will not result in other-than-temporary or permanent impairments of these assets, which would lead to accounting charges which could have a material negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The value of our goodwill and other intangible assets may decline in the future.
As of December 31, 2016, we had $18.5 million of goodwill and other intangible assets. A significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or a significant and sustained decline in the price of our common stock may necessitate taking charges in the future related to the impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets. If we were to conclude that a future write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets is necessary, we would record the appropriate charge, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks.
From time to time, we may implement new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of business and/or new product or service could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is a financial holding company, and its sources of funds are limited.
The Company is a financial holding company and its operations are primarily conducted by the Bank, which is subject to significant federal and state regulation. Cash available to pay dividends to shareholders of the Company is derived primarily from dividends paid by the Bank. As a result, the Company’s ability to receive dividends or loans from its subsidiary is restricted. Under federal law, the payment of dividends by the Bank is subject to capital adequacy requirements. The Federal Reserve Board and/or the FDIC prohibit a dividend payment by the Company or the Bank that would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. See the sections captioned “Supervision and Regulation – Limit on Dividends” in Item 1, Business, and Note 14, “Regulatory Capital Requirements” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The inability of the Bank to generate profits and pay such dividends to the Company, or regulator restrictions on the payment of such dividends to the Company even if earned, would have an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders.
In addition, since the Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank, its right to participate in the distribution of assets of the Bank upon the Bank’s liquidation, reorganization or otherwise will be subject to the prior claims of the Bank’s creditors, which will generally take priority over the Bank’s shareholders.
Potential acquisitions may disrupt our business and dilute stockholder value.
We generally seek merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar and have experienced management and possess either significant market presence or have potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale or expanded services. Acquiring other banks, businesses, or branches involves various risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things:
• | Potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of the target company. |
• | Exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company. |
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• | Potential disruption to our business. |
• | Potential diversion of our management’s time and attention. |
• | The possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company. |
• | Difficulty in estimating the value of the target company. |
• | Potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company. |
Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values, and, therefore, some dilution of our tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in connection with any future transaction. Furthermore, failure to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected benefits from an acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is subject to liquidity risk, which could disrupt our ability to meet our financial obligations.
Liquidity refers to the ability of the Company to ensure sufficient levels of cash to fund operations, such as meeting deposit withdrawals, funding loan commitments, paying expenses and meeting quarterly payment obligations under certain subordinated debentures issued by the Company in connection with the issuance of floating rate redeemable trust preferred securities. The source of the funds for the Company’s debt obligations is dependent on the Bank. If needed, the Bank has the ability to borrow term and overnight funds from the FHLB or other financial intermediaries.
While management is satisfied that the Company’s liquidity is sufficient at December 31, 2016 to meet known and potential obligations, any significant restriction or disruption of the Company’s ability to obtain funding from these or other sources could have a negative effect on the Company’s ability to satisfy its current and future financial obligations, which could materially affect the Company’s financial condition.
Limited availability of borrowings and liquidity from the Federal Home Loan Bank system and other sources could negatively impact earnings.
The Bank is currently a member bank of the FHLB of Pittsburgh. Membership in this system of quasi-governmental, regional home-loan oriented agency banks allows us to participate in various programs offered by the FHLB. We borrow funds from the FHLB, which are secured by a blanket lien on certain residential and commercial mortgage loans, and if applicable, investment securities with collateral values in excess of the outstanding balances. Current and future earnings shortfalls and minimum capital requirements of the FHLB may impact the collateral necessary to secure borrowings and limit the borrowings extended to their member banks, as well as require additional capital contributions by member banks. Should this occur, our short-term liquidity needs could be negatively impacted. If we were restricted from using FHLB advances due to weakness in the system or with the FHLB of Pittsburgh, we may be forced to find alternative funding sources. If we are required to rely more heavily on higher cost funding sources, revenues may not increase proportionately to cover these costs, which would adversely affect results of operations and financial position.
We may not be able to attract and retain skilled people.
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by us can be intense and we may not be able to hire people or to retain them. Many of our branches are located in rural areas and small towns where the competition for labor can be fierce, and where the pool of qualified employees may be small. The unexpected loss of services of key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations because of their skills, knowledge of our market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.
Interruption to our information systems or breaches in security could adversely affect the Company’s operations.
The Company relies on information systems and communications for operating and monitoring all major aspects of business, as well as internal management functions. Any failure, interruption, intrusion or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the customer relationship, management, general ledger, deposit, loan and other systems. While the Company has policies, procedures and technical safeguards designed to prevent or limit the effect of any failure, interruption,
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intrusion or security breach of its information systems, there can be no assurance that the above-noted issues will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed.
There have been several cyber-attacks on websites of large financial services companies. Even if not directed at the Company specifically, attacks on other entities with whom we do business or on whom we otherwise rely or attacks on financial or other institutions important to the overall functioning of the financial system could adversely affect, directly or indirectly, aspects of our business.
Cyber-attacks on third party retailers or other business establishments that widely accept debit card or check payments could compromise sensitive Bank customer information, such as debit card and account numbers. Such an attack could result in significant costs to the Bank, such as costs to reimburse customers, reissue debit cards and open new customer accounts.
In addition, there have been efforts on the part of third parties to breach data security at financial institutions, including through the use of social engineering schemes such as “phishing.” The ability of our customers to bank remotely, including online and through mobile devices, requires secure transmission of confidential information and increases the risk of data security breaches. Because the techniques used to attack financial services company communications and information systems change frequently (and generally increase in sophistication), often attacks are not recognized until launched against a target, may be supported by foreign governments or other well-financed entities, and may originate from less regulated and remote areas around the world, we may be unable to address these techniques in advance of attacks, including by implementing adequate preventative measures.
The occurrence of any such failure, disruption or security breach of our information systems, particularly if widespread or resulting in financial losses to our customers, could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, and expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability. These risks could have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We continually encounter technological change.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations rely on certain external vendors who may not perform in a satisfactory manner.
We are reliant upon certain external vendors to provide products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations. Accordingly, our operations are exposed to risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with applicable contractual arrangements or service level agreements. We maintain a system of policies and procedures designed to monitor vendor risks including, among other things, (i) changes in the vendor’s organizational structure, (ii) changes in the vendor’s financial condition and (iii) changes in the vendor’s support for existing products and services. While we believe these policies and procedures help to mitigate risk, and our vendors are not the sole source of service, the failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with applicable contractual arrangements or the service level agreements could be disruptive to our operations, which could have a material adverse impact on the our business and its financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Environmental reviews of real property before initiating foreclosure actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events could significantly impact our business.
Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. In addition, such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue and/or cause us to incur additional expenses. The occurrence of any such event in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Financial services companies depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Associated With Our Common Stock
The trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies.
Although our common stock is traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, the trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. Moreover, the over-the-counter market is not a stock exchange, and trading of securities on the over-the-counter market is often more sporadic than the trading of securities listed on a quotation system like NASDAQ or a stock exchange like the New York Stock Exchange. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the lower trading volume of our common stock, significant sales of our common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause our stock price to fall more than would otherwise be expected. Conversely, significant purchases of our common stock, or the absence of willing sellers, could cause our stock price to be greater than would otherwise be expected in a liquid trading market. Such pricing may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
Our stock price can be volatile.
Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to resell your common stock when you want and at prices you find attractive. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
• | Actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations. |
• | Recommendations by securities analysts. |
• | Operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us. |
• | News reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry. |
• | Perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors. |
• | New technology used, or services offered, by competitors. |
• | Significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors. |
• | Failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions. |
• | Changes in government regulations. |
• | Geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts. |
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General market fluctuations, including real or anticipated changes in the strength of the economies we serve; industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions; interest rate changes, oil price volatility or credit loss trends could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.
Our ability to pay dividends is limited and we may be unable to pay future dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock may be your sole opportunity for gains on your investment for the foreseeable future.
We make no assurances that we will pay any dividends in the future. Any future determination relating to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, regulatory restrictions and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, and if declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. As part of our consideration of whether to pay cash dividends, we intend to retain adequate funds from future earnings to support the development and growth of our business. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is restricted by federal policies and regulations and by the terms of our existing indebtedness. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve Board that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of net income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. For further information, see the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation – Limit on Dividends" in Item 1, Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are exposed to risks relating to evaluations of controls required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
We are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. While we have concluded that at December 31, 2016 that we have no material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting we cannot assure you that we will not have a material weakness in the future. A “material weakness” is a control deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. If we fail to maintain a system of internal controls over financial reporting that meets the requirements of Section 404, we might be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities. Additionally, failure to comply with Section 404 or the report by us of a material weakness may cause investors to lose confidence in our financial statements and our stock price may be adversely affected. If we fail to remedy any material weakness, our financial statements may be inaccurate, we may not have access to the capital markets, and our stock price may be adversely affected.
We may issue additional shares of our common stock that could result in dilution of an investor’s investment.
Our Board of Directors may determine from time to time that there is a need to obtain additional capital through the issuance of additional shares of common stock. These issuances would likely dilute the ownership interests of our investors and may dilute the per share book value of our common stock. In addition, the issuance of additional shares of common stock under our stock option and equity incentive plans will further dilute each investor’s ownership of our common stock.
An investment in our common stock is not an insured deposit.
Our common stock is not a bank deposit and, therefore, is not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other deposit insurance fund or by any other public or private entity. Investment in our common stock is inherently risky for the reasons described in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of common stock in any company. As a result, if you acquire our common stock, you could lose some or all of your investment.
Certain banking laws may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our shareholders. These provisions effectively inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company, through its Bank subsidiary, owns its main office located at 301 Virginia Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia. The Company’s subsidiary owns or leases various other offices in the counties and cities in which they operate. As of December 31, 2016, the Company operated thirteen full-service banking branches, eleven mortgage only offices, with locations as further described in Item 1, Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Nine of the thirteen full-service banking branches are owned and the remaining four are leased. All mortgage locations are leased.
No one facility is material to the Company. Management believes that the facilities are generally in good condition and suitable for the operations for which they are used. However, management continually looks for opportunities to upgrade its facilities and locations and may do so in the future.
Additional information concerning the property and equipment owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiary is incorporated herein by reference from Note 4, "Premises and Equipment” and Note 16, "Leases” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time in the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiary are subject to claims, asserted or unasserted, or named as a party to lawsuits or investigations. Litigation, in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with any certainty and in the case of more complex legal proceedings, the results are difficult to predict at all. The Company is not aware of any asserted or unasserted legal proceedings or claims that the Company believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of the Company’s operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Company's common stock is not traded on any national exchange. Our common stock is quoted on The OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “MVBF.”
The table presented below provides the quarterly high and low sales prices, closing sales price and dividends declared for the last two years. The information set forth in the table is based on knowledge of certain arms-length transactions in the stock. In addition, dividends are subject to the restrictions described in Note 15, "Regulatory Restriction on Dividend" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Quarterly Market and Dividend Information: | ||||||||||||||||
High | Low | Last | Dividend | |||||||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 13.05 | $ | 11.50 | $ | 12.80 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||||
Third Quarter | 13.50 | 11.95 | 12.31 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
Second Quarter | 14.00 | 12.06 | 12.95 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
First Quarter | 13.99 | 9.50 | 13.40 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 15.25 | $ | 13.05 | $ | 13.10 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||||
Third Quarter | 15.64 | 14.35 | 15.10 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
Second Quarter | 14.99 | 12.75 | 14.85 | 0.04 | ||||||||||||
First Quarter | 15.80 | 12.77 | 13.00 | — | ||||||||||||
MVB Financial Corp. had 1,146 stockholders of record at December 31, 2016. The Company began paying an annual dividend of $.05 per share beginning in December 2008 through December 2011. Beginning in 2012, the Company began paying a semi-annual dividend of $.035 per share in June and December. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company began paying a quarterly dividend. In 2013 and 2014, the Company paid a semi-annual dividend of $.04 per share in June and $.04 per share in December. In 2015, the Company paid a semi-annual dividend of $.04 per share in June and a quarterly dividend of $.02 per share in September and December. In 2016, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $.02 per share in March, June, September, and December. No dividends were paid prior to 2008.
Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2016:
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options (a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | |||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 768,598 | $ | 12.75 | 400,825 | ||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||
Total | 768,598 | $ | 12.75 | 400,825 | ||||||
During 2016, 55,000 stock options under the Company’s equity compensation plan were exercised.
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The following five-year performance graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) on the Company’s common stock to the KBW Bank Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The stock performance graph assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2010, and the cumulative return is measured as of each subsequent fiscal year end.
Index | 12/31/2011 | 12/31/2012 | 12/31/2013 | 12/31/2014 | 12/31/2015 | 12/31/2016 | ||||||||||||||||||
MVB Financial Corp. | $ | 115.76 | $ | 126.97 | $ | 175.95 | $ | 159.92 | $ | 140.96 | $ | 138.65 | ||||||||||||
KBW Bank Index | 75.43 | 106.07 | 132.66 | 142.23 | 139.97 | 175.81 | ||||||||||||||||||
Russell 2000 | 94.55 | 108.38 | 148.49 | 153.73 | 144.95 | 173.18 | ||||||||||||||||||
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On December 5, 2016, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with certain accredited investors. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, the Investors agreed to purchase an aggregate of 1,913,044 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, at a price of $11.50 per share, as part of a private placement (the “Private Placement”). The Private Placement closed on December 6, 2016. The gross proceeds to the Company from the Private Placement were approximately $22 million. The proceeds from the Private Placement were used by the Company to pay related transaction fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. A portion of the proceeds were used for the redemption of the preferred stock issued to the United States Department of Treasury in connection with the Company’s participation in the Small Business Lending Fund, which was completed in early January 2017.
The issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Private Placement is a private placement to “accredited investors” (as that term is defined under Rule 501 of Regulation D), and is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D Rule 506, as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering.
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Purchases of Equity Securities by Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following consolidated summary sets forth the Company’s selected financial data that has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for each of the periods and at the dates indicated | ||||||||||||||||||||
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands except per share data) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | $ | 1,418,804 | $ | 1,384,476 | $ | 1,110,459 | $ | 987,060 | $ | 726,769 | ||||||||||
Investment securities | 162,368 | 123,115 | 122,751 | 163,081 | 114,748 | |||||||||||||||
Loans, net | 1,043,764 | 1,024,164 | 792,074 | 617,370 | 442,367 | |||||||||||||||
Loans held for sale | 90,174 | 102,623 | 69,527 | 89,186 | 85,529 | |||||||||||||||
Deposits | 1,107,017 | 1,012,314 | 823,227 | 695,811 | 486,519 | |||||||||||||||
Stockholders' equity | 145,625 | 114,712 | 109,438 | 94,022 | 67,549 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | 8,212,021 | 8,014,316 | 7,905,468 | 6,657,093 | 4,388,650 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted | 10,068,733 | 8,140,116 | 8,102,117 | 6,939,028 | 4,509,234 | |||||||||||||||
Income Statement Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 54,123 | $ | 44,100 | $ | 36,168 | $ | 27,515 | $ | 22,254 | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 11,132 | 9,225 | 7,511 | 5,187 | 4,930 | |||||||||||||||
Net interest income | 42,991 | 34,875 | 28,657 | 22,328 | 17,324 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for loan loss | 3,632 | 2,493 | 2,582 | 2,260 | 2,800 | |||||||||||||||
Net interest income after provision for loan loss | 39,359 | 32,382 | 26,075 | 20,068 | 14,524 | |||||||||||||||
Noninterest income | 43,205 | 34,955 | 22,022 | 25,844 | 7,749 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of securities | 1,082 | 130 | 413 | 145 | 638 | |||||||||||||||
Noninterest expense | 69,209 | 57,848 | 45,194 | 40,388 | 16,439 | |||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes | 13,355 | 9,489 | 2,903 | 5,524 | 5,834 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense - continuing operations | 4,378 | 2,886 | 248 | 1,245 | 1,666 | |||||||||||||||
Net Income from continuing operations | 8,977 | 6,603 | 2,655 | 4,279 | 4,168 | |||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, before income taxes | 6,346 | 353 | (920 | ) | (522 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) - discontinued operations | 2,411 | 140 | (344 | ) | (262 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Net Income from discontinued operations | 3,935 | 213 | (576 | ) | (260 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Net Income | 12,912 | 6,816 | 2,079 | 4,020 | 4,168 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred dividends | 1,128 | 575 | 332 | 85 | 136 | |||||||||||||||
Net Income available to common shareholders | 11,784 | 6,241 | 1,747 | 3,935 | 4,032 | |||||||||||||||
Per Share Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations - basic | $ | 0.96 | $ | 0.75 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 0.92 | ||||||||||
Earnings per share from discontinued operations - basic | 0.48 | 0.03 | (0.07 | ) | (0.04 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Earnings per share per common shareholder - basic | 1.44 | 0.78 | 0.22 | 0.59 | 0.92 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations - diluted | 0.92 | 0.74 | 0.29 | 0.60 | 0.90 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per share from discontinued operations - diluted | 0.39 | 0.03 | (0.07 | ) | (0.03 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Earnings per share per common shareholder - diluted | 1.31 | 0.77 | 0.22 | 0.57 | 0.90 | |||||||||||||||
Cash dividends | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.07 | |||||||||||||||
Book value | 12.93 | 12.20 | 11.59 | 11.10 | 10.07 | |||||||||||||||
Tangible book value | 11.01 | 9.81 | 9.44 | 8.85 | 7.19 | |||||||||||||||
Asset Quality Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nonperforming loans to gross loans | 0.59 | % | 0.99 | % | 1.16 | % | 0.14 | % | 0.77 | % | ||||||||||
Nonperforming assets to total assets | 0.47 | 0.76 | 0.89 | 0.12 | 0.50 | |||||||||||||||
Net charge-offs to gross loans | 0.24 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.23 | 0.40 | |||||||||||||||
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans | 0.86 | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.79 | 0.91 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Ratios: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Return on average assets - continuing operations | 0.63 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.26 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.71 | % | ||||||||||
Return on average assets - discontinued operations | 0.28 | 0.02 | (0.06 | ) | (0.03 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Return on average equity - continuing operations | 7.30 | 5.89 | 2.57 | 5.44 | 8.33 | |||||||||||||||
Return on average equity - discontinued operations | 3.20 | 0.19 | (0.56 | ) | (0.33 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Dividend payout | 5.00 | 9.40 | 30.59 | 13.36 | 7.37 | |||||||||||||||
Efficiency ratio | 80.29 | 82.84 | 89.18 | 85.44 | 65.56 | |||||||||||||||
Equity to assets | 10.26 | 8.29 | 9.86 | 9.53 | 9.29 | |||||||||||||||
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio | 10.11 | 7.59 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio | 11.92 | 9.47 | 12.03 | 13.03 | 11.40 | |||||||||||||||
Total risk-based capital ratio | 15.36 | 12.91 | 16.40 | 13.80 | 12.30 | |||||||||||||||
Leverage ratio | 9.54 | 7.77 | 8.98 | 9.28 | 8.40 | |||||||||||||||
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-looking Statements:
Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are based on other than historical data are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and include, among others:
• | statements with respect to the beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, anticipations, and future financial condition, results of operations and performance of the Company and its subsidiary (collectively “we,” “our,” or “us), including the Bank; |
• | statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “projects,” or similar expressions. |
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing the Company’s or the Bank management’s views as of any subsequent date. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, those presented in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis section. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to:
• | the ability of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage to successfully execute business plans, manage risks, and achieve objectives; |
• | changes in local, national and international political and economic conditions, including without limitation the political and economic effects of the recent economic crisis, delay of recovery from that crisis, economic conditions and fiscal imbalances in the United States and other countries, potential or actual downgrades in rating of sovereign debt issued by the United States and other countries, and other major developments, including wars, military actions, and terrorist attacks; |
• | changes in financial market conditions, either internationally, nationally or locally in areas in which the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage conduct operations, including without limitation, reduced rates of business formation and growth, commercial and residential real estate development and real estate prices; |
• | fluctuations in markets for equity, fixed-income, commercial paper and other securities, including availability, market liquidity levels, and pricing; changes in interest rates, the quality and composition of the loan and securities portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows and competition; |
• | the ability of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage to successfully conduct acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; |
• | potential difficulties in expanding the businesses of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage in existing and new markets; |
• | increases in the levels of losses, customer bankruptcies, bank failures, claims, and assessments; |
• | changes in fiscal, monetary, regulatory, trade and tax policies and laws, and regulatory assessments and fees, including policies of the U.S. Department of Treasury, the (Federal Reserve, and the FDIC); |
• | the impact of executive compensation rules under the Dodd-Frank Act and banking regulations which may impact the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, and other American financial institutions to retain and recruit executives and other personnel necessary for their businesses and competitiveness; |
• | the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and of new international standards known as Basel III, and rules and regulations thereunder, many of which have not yet been promulgated, on our required regulatory capital and liquidity levels, governmental assessments on us, the scope of business activities in which we may engage, the manner in which the |
37
Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage engage in such activities, the fees that the Company’s subsidiaries may charge for certain products and services, and other matters affected by the Dodd-Frank Act and these international standards;
• | continuing consolidation in the financial services industry; new legal claims against the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage, including litigation, arbitration and proceedings brought by governmental or self-regulatory agencies, or changes in existing legal matters; |
• | success in gaining regulatory approvals, when required, including for proposed mergers or acquisitions; |
• | changes in consumer spending and savings habits; |
• | increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; |
• | inflation and deflation; |
• | technological changes and the implementation of new technologies by the Company and its subsidiaries; |
• | the ability of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage to develop and maintain secure and reliable information technology systems; |
• | legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the operations or business of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage; |
• | the ability of the Company, the Bank, and MVB Mortgage to comply with applicable laws and regulations; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or regulatory agencies; and, |
• | costs of deposit insurance and changes with respect to FDIC insurance coverage levels. |
Except to the extent required by law, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.
In Management’s Discussion and Analysis, we review and explain the general financial condition and the results of operations for MVB Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries. We have designed this discussion to assist you in understanding the significant changes in the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. We have used accounting principles generally accepted in the United States to prepare the accompanying consolidated financial statements. We engaged Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP. to audit the consolidated financial statements and their independent audit report is included herein.
Introduction
The following discussion and analysis of the Consolidated Financial Statements is presented to provide insight into management’s assessment of the financial results and operations of the Company. You should read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes and the ratios and statistics contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Application of Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles and follow general practices within the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the consolidated financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions, and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the consolidated financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment write-down or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility. The fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based either on quoted market prices or are provided by other third-party sources, when available. When third-party information is not available, valuation adjustments are estimated in good faith by management primarily through the use of internal forecasting techniques.
The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in management’s discussion and analysis of operations, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the consolidated financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, management has identified the determination of the allowance for loan losses to be the accounting area that requires the most subjective or complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The Allowance for Loan Losses ("ALL") represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the amount and timing of losses inherent in classifications of homogeneous loans based on the Bank’s historical loss experience and consideration of current economic trends and conditions, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. Non-homogeneous loans are specifically evaluated due to the increased risks inherent in those loans. The loan portfolio also represents the largest asset type in the consolidated balance sheet. Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, describes the methodology used to determine the allowance for loan losses and a discussion of the factors driving changes in the amount of the allowance for loan losses.
Investment Securities
Investment securities at the time of purchase are classified as one of the following:
Held-to-Maturity Securities - Includes securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are reported at amortized cost.
Available-for-Sale Securities - Includes debt and equity securities not classified as held-to-maturity that will be held for indefinite periods of time. These securities may be sold in response to changes in market interest or prepayment rates, needs for liquidity and changes in the availability of and yield of alternative investments. Such securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of estimated income tax effect.
The amortized cost of investment in debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by a method that results in a level yield. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are computed on the basis of specific identification of the adjusted cost of each security.
Securities are periodically reviewed for other-than-temporary impairment. For debt securities, management considers whether the present value of future cash flows expected to be collected are less than the security’s amortized cost basis (the difference defined as the credit loss), the magnitude and duration of the decline, the reasons underlying the decline and the Company’s intent to sell the security or whether it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the security before its anticipated
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recovery in market value, to determine whether the loss in value is other than temporary. Once a decline in value is determined to be other than temporary, if the Company does not intend to sell the security, and it is more-likely-than-not that it will not be required to sell the security, before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis, the charge to earnings is limited to the amount of credit loss. Any remaining difference between fair value and amortized cost (the difference defined as the non-credit portion) is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. For equity securities where the fair value has been significantly below cost for one year, the Company’s policy is to recognize an impairment loss unless sufficient evidence is available that the decline is not other than temporary and a recovery period can be predicted. A decline in value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recorded as a loss within noninterest income in the consolidated statement of income.
Common stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank represents ownership in an institution which is wholly owned by other financial institutions. These equity securities are accounted for at cost and are classified as other assets.
See Note 2, "Investment Securities" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s policy regarding the other than temporary impairment of investment securities.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
As discussed in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company must assess goodwill and other intangible assets each year for impairment. This assessment involves estimating the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value including goodwill, we would be required to take a charge against earnings to write down the assets to the lower value.
Deferred Tax Assets
We use an estimate of future earnings to support our position that the benefit of our deferred tax assets will be realized. If future income should prove non-existent or less than the amount of the deferred tax assets within the tax years to which they may be applied, the asset may not be realized and our net income will be reduced. Management also evaluates deferred tax assets to determine if it is more likely than not that the deferred tax benefit will be utilized in future periods. If not, a valuation allowance is recorded. Our deferred tax assets are described further in Note 8, "Income Taxes" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Developments
In December 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this ASU cover a variety of Topics in the Codification related to the new revenue recognition standard (ASU 2014-09) and represent changes to make minor corrections or minor improvements to the Codification that are not expected to have a significant impact on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. For public companies, this update will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including all interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to be material to the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. The amendments in this ASU cover a wide range of Topics in the Codification and represent changes to make corrections or improvements to the Codification that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. For public companies, this update will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including all interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The new guidance clarifies the classification within the statement of cash flows for certain transactions, including debt extinguishment costs, zero-coupon debt, contingent consideration related to business combinations, insurance proceeds, equity method distributions and beneficial interests in securitizations. The guidance also clarifies that cash flows with aspects of multiple classes of cash flows or that cannot be separated by source or use should be classified based on the activity that is likely to be the predominant source or use of cash flows for the item. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
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In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. The new guidance changes the accounting for the consolidation of VIEs in certain situations involving entities under common control. Specifically, the amendments change how the indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control should be included in a reporting entity’s evaluation of whether it is a primary beneficiary of a VIE. Under the amended guidance, the reporting entity is only required to include the indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control in a VIE on a proportionate basis. Currently, the indirect interests held by the related parties that are under common control are considered to be the equivalent of direct interests in their entirety. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. This new guidance requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Current U.S. GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This new guidance clarifies the guidance for classification of certain cash receipts and payments within an entity’s statements of cash flows. These items include debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of BOLI policies, distributions received from equity method investees, and beneficial interests in securitization transactions. The amended guidance also specifies how to address classification of cash receipts and payments that have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. This guidances is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with an expected credit loss methodology and requires consideration of a broader range of information to determine credit loss estimates. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an allowance for credit losses. Purchased credit impaired loans will receive an allowance account at the acquisition date that represents a component of the purchase price allocation. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, with such allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company's project management team and MLC are in the process of developing an understanding of this pronouncement, evaluating the impact of this pronouncement and researching additional software resources that could assist with the implementation.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The new guidance eliminates the concept of APIC pools for stock-based awards and requires that the related excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance also allows entities to make a one-time policy election to account for forfeitures when they occur, instead of accruing compensation cost based on the number of awards expected to vest. Additionally, the new guidance changes the requirement for an award to qualify for equity classification by permitting tax withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rate instead of the minimum statutory tax rate. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Among other things, in the amendments in ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) A lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases
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existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. While we are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard, we expect an increase to the Consolidated Balance Sheets for right-of-use assets and associated lease liabilities, as well as resulting depreciation expense of the right-of-use assets and interest expense of the lease liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Income, for arrangements previously accounted for as operating leases.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Accounting for Financial Instruments - Overall: Classification and Measurement (Subtopic 825-10). Amendments within ASU 2016-01 that relate to non-public entities have been excluded from this presentation. The amendments in this ASU 2016-01 address the following: 1) require equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; 2) simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily-determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; 3) eliminate the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; 4) require entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; 5) require separate presentation in other comprehensive income for the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; 6) require separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and 7) clarify that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity's other deferred tax assets. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this amendment to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements as it relates to accounting for financial instruments. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this amendment to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements as it relates to accounting for financial instruments.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. The new guidance requires that adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period of a business combination be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Furthermore, the income statement effects of such adjustments, if any, must be calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date reflecting the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. Under previous guidance, adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period are to be recognized retrospectively. ASU 2015-16 was effective for us on January 1, 2016 and did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The amendments modify the evaluation reporting organizations must perform to determine if certain legal entities should be consolidated as VIEs. Specifically, the amendments: (1) Modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities; (2) Eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; (3) Affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and (4) Provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU 2015-02 was effective for us on January 1, 2016 and did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Summary Financial Results
Excluding discontinued operations, the Company earned $9.0 million in 2016 compared to $6.6 million in 2015, an increase of $2.4 million. The 2016 earnings equated to a return on average assets of 0.63% and a return on average equity of 7.30%, compared to 2015 results of 0.54% and 5.89%, respectively. Basic earnings per share were $0.96 in 2016 compared to $0.75 in 2015. Diluted earnings per share were $0.92 in 2016 compared to $0.74 in 2015.
Excluding discontinued operations, the Company earned $6.6 million in 2015 compared to $2.7 million in 2014, an increase of $3.9 million. The 2015 earnings equated to a return on average assets of 0.54% and a return on average equity of 5.89%, compared to 2014 results of 0.26% and 2.57%, respectively. Basic earnings per share were $0.75 in 2015 compared to $0.29 in 2014. Diluted earnings per share were $0.74 in 2015 compared to $0.29 in 2014.
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Net interest income increased $8.1 million, noninterest income increased $8.3 million and noninterest expenses increased by $11.4 million during 2016 compared to 2015. The Company’s yield on earning assets in 2016 was 4.05% compared to 3.88% in 2015. Total loans increased by $20.7 million to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2016. The Bank’s ability to originate quality loans is supported by a minimal delinquency rate.
Net interest income increased $6.2 million, noninterest income increased $12.9 million and noninterest expenses increased by $12.7 million during 2015 compared to 2014. The Company’s yield on earning assets in 2015 was 3.88% compared to 3.80% in 2014. Total loans increased to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015, from $798.3 million at December 31, 2014.
Deposits increased $94.7 million to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2016, from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015. The Bank offers an uncomplicated product design accompanied by a simple fee structure that is attractive to customers. The overall cost of funds for the Company was 0.93% in 2016 compared to 0.90% in 2015. This cost of funds, combined with the earning asset yield, resulted in a net interest margin of 3.22% in 2016 compared to 3.07% in 2015.
Deposits increased $189.1 million to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015, from $823.2 million at December 31, 2014. The overall cost of funds for the Company was 0.90% in 2015 compared to 0.87% in 2014. This cost of funds, combined with the earning asset yield, resulted in a net interest margin of 3.07% in 2015 compared to 3.01% in 2014.
Interest Income and Expense
Net interest income is the amount by which interest income on earning assets exceeds interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Interest-earning assets include loans, investment securities and certificates of deposit in other banks. Interest-bearing liabilities include interest-bearing deposits and borrowed funds such as sweep accounts and repurchase agreements. Net interest income remains the primary source of revenue for the Bank. Net interest income is also impacted by changes in market interest rates, as well as the mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is also impacted favorably by increases in noninterest bearing demand deposits and equity.
Net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income by average interest-earning assets and serves as a measurement of the net revenue stream generated by the Bank’s balance sheet. As noted above, the net interest margin was 3.22% in 2016 compared to 3.07% and 3.01% in 2015 and 2014, respectively. The net interest margin continues to face considerable pressure due to competitive pricing of loans and deposits in the Bank’s markets. During 2016, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate from a range of 0.25% to 0.50% to a range of 0.50% to 0.75%. Management’s estimate of the impact of future changes in market interest rates is shown in the section captioned “Interest Rate Risk.”
Company management continues to analyze methods to deploy assets into an earning asset mix which will result in a stronger net interest margin. Loan growth continues to be strong and management anticipates that loan activity will remain strong in the near term future.
During 2016, net interest income increased by $8.1 million or 23.3% to $43.0 million from $34.9 million in 2015. This increase is largely due to the growth in average earning assets, primarily $179.0 million in average total loans and loans held for sale. Average total earning assets were $1.3 billion in 2016 compared to $1.1 billion in 2015. Average total loans and loans held for sale grew to $1.2 billion in 2016 from $987.7 million in 2015. Primarily as a result of this growth, total interest income increased by $10.0 million, or 22.7%, to $54.1 million in 2016 from $44.1 million in 2015. Average investment securities increased $21.1 million, the result of a $10.7 million average increase in tax-exempt investments and a $10.4 million increase in taxable investments. Yield on tax-exempt securities remained flat, increasing only 1 basis point, while taxable securities increased 34 basis points. Average interest-bearing liabilities, mainly deposits and borrowings, likewise increased in 2016 by $165.8 million. Average interest-bearing deposits grew to $992.7 million in 2016 from $842.3 million in 2015. Total interest expense increased by $1.9 million, caused primarily by a $1.5 million increase in deposit interest and a $394 thousand increase in interest on FHLB and other borrowings. The result was a 3 basis point increase in interest cost from 2015 to 2016.
During 2015, net interest income increased by $6.2 million or 21.7% to $34.9 million from $28.7 million in 2014. This increase is largely due to the growth in average earning assets, primarily $207.8 million in loans and loans held for sale. Average total earning assets were $1.1 billion in 2015 compared to $952.6 million in 2014. Average total loans and loans held for sale grew to $987.7 million in 2015 from $779.8 million in 2014. Primarily as a result of this growth, total interest income increased by $7.9 million, or 21.9%, to $44.1 million in 2015 from $36.2 million in 2014. Average investment securities decreased